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Félicitations: Top National Award for French Department

For the third time in a row, the St. Luke’s French program received the top national ranking of “Exemplary with Distinction” by the Association of Teachers of French (AATF). The ranking is a two-year distinction and published on the AATF website. Since this prestigious program’s inception in 2015, St. Luke’s has consistently earned the highest ranking in the country.

The French teaching team submits to the AATF committee an extensive online portfolio of statistics, test results, faculty résumés, and professional development activities, photos, and videos of student projects, letters of support from parents, alumni, and administration, as well as curriculum highlights.

The AATF committee’s letter of congratulations states: “We were impressed with your numbers and with the many activities in which your students participate. The range of materials presented in your lesson plans as well as student performance outcomes are outstanding. We commend your faculty for their strong professional activities.”

The teachers of the St. Luke’s French program include Jon Shee, Susan Sarrazin, Evan Downey, Cynthia Badan, and Amber Berry (who also serves as Head of Middle School).  Beth Yavenditti, the Center for Leadership’s Director of Global Education, coordinates the French-language travel experiences and has taught French at St. Luke’s for many years.

Thirty-six percent of St. Luke’s students in grades 6-12 study French. Upper School World Language Department Chair Jon Shee shared, “Significant data studies have predicted that by 2050, French is expected to be the third or fourth most spoken language by primary and secondary speakers worldwide. Being able to express themselves in this growing language is a great skill for our graduates.”

The award will be formally presented at the AATF national convention in Philadelphia this summer. Congratulations to our St. Luke’s French program and teachers for going “au-dessus et au-delà” (above and beyond) in their work.



      
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St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.